‘Kidnapped’: Family at center of Bundy-led protests sues St. Luke’s, police, Idaho agency

Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — The parents of nan babe astatine nan halfway of a kid use lawsuit that prompted protests astatine hospitals led by far-right activistic Ammon Bundy person revenge a suit naming St. Luke’s Health System, nan Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, nan metropolis of Meridian and respective individuals.

The suit was revenge March 27 by Marissa and Levi Anderson, nan parents of nan 10-month-old who was separated from them connected March 11, 2022, aft wellness authorities wished nan child’s weight nonaccomplishment could frighten his life. Roughly a week aft nan authorities took custody of nan child, he was returned to nan Andersons.

Diego Rodriguez, nan child’s grandfather and a adjacent subordinate of Bundy’s, and Miranda Chavoya, nan child’s aunt, besides are plaintiffs successful nan suit, which asks for $10 cardinal successful damages.

The clip successful betwixt nan baby’s separation and return was marked by protests stirred by Bundy and Rodriguez — first astatine nan St. Luke’s infirmary successful Meridian and past astatine its Boise complex. Bundy was arrested for his actions astatine nan Meridian facility, and protests successful Boise caused nan infirmary to spell into lockdown. The wellness strategy later sued Bundy, Rodriguez and Bundy’s People’s Rights Network, winning complete $50 cardinal successful damages.

The Andersons’ lawsuit was initially brought successful Florida, wherever they now live, but an Orlando judge transferred nan venue to Idaho because nan events occurred present and because nan defendants reside successful nan Gem State, according to a tribunal order.

The plaintiffs had based on that nan lawsuit couldn’t beryllium heard successful Idaho because of “extreme bias” against them based connected nan defamation suit that St. Luke’s revenge and won. Neither Bundy nor Rodriguez ever came to court.

“I beryllium St. Luke’s nothing,” Bundy told nan Idaho Statesman pursuing nan assemblage verdict.

He yet mislaid his location successful Emmett, and he and his family fled nan state. Bundy and Rodriguez did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected nan family’s lawsuit.

None of nan defendants person been served pinch nan suit yet, according to Christine Myron, a spokesperson for St. Luke’s. She provided a connection for nan wellness system:

“It is important to statement that nan ineligible and actual claims made by Mr. Rodriguez and nan different plaintiffs successful this caller suit are inconsistent pinch nan result of nan Idaho suit St. Luke’s brought against Mr. Rodriguez, Ammon Bundy, and others.

The tribunal successful that lawsuit has already recovered Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Bundy, and others liable for their mendacious claims and run of harassment against St. Luke’s and its physicians and staff. The actual and ineligible issues successful this caller pro-se lawsuit person already been decided against nan plaintiffs.”

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CHILD WELFARE CASE?

The baby’s pediatrician had recommended nan boy beryllium taken to nan infirmary successful nan wintertime of 2022 because he was having problem digesting proteins and was losing weight. He was hospitalized for “severe malnourishment,” a news merchandise from nan Meridian Police Department said, and was discharged a fewer days later aft gaining immoderate weight.

When his parents grounded to bring him to a scheduled follow-up pinch nan pediatrician, nan lawsuit was referred to Health and Welfare, and constabulary were contacted.

Police from Boise, Meridian and Garden City stopped nan Andersons astatine a Garden City state position and took nan kid into custody because authorities believed nan kid to beryllium successful threat of imminent harm, nan news merchandise said.

Marissa Anderson antecedently told nan Statesman successful an question and reply that she was not emotion good and had called nan expert to reschedule. When rule enforcement stopped nan family, she many times told constabulary she would not manus complete her child, and she was arrested connected suspicion of misdemeanor resisting aliases obstructing officers. The babe was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s successful Meridian, and nan charges against Marissa were later dropped.

Bundy put retired a telephone to his People’s Rights Network group, and much than 20 group gathered astatine nan hospital’s entranceway to protest. He was arrested connected suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing and Rodriguez was arrested connected 1 count of misdemeanor resisting aliases obstructing officers. Bundy pleaded blameworthy and was sentenced to 90 days successful jail.

The protests later shifted to St. Luke’s successful Boise, wherever Bundy’s followers carried picket signs and forced nan infirmary into lockdown. There besides were protests astatine nan courthouse and astatine Health and Welfare headquarters.

NEW COURT DOCUMENTS CLAIM THE INFANT WAS ‘ABDUCTED’

The suit from nan family against St. Luke’s, nan authorities agency and others alleged that nan kid received mediocre curen astatine nan infirmary and was “left successful a excavation of his ain vomit.”

It accused nan wellness strategy and nan metropolis of Meridian of “abducting” nan boy and keeping him from his mother, causing her beingness harm and distress, arsenic “political retaliation” against Bundy and Rodriguez. The title alleged that Health and Welfare was alert “there was nary grounds of threat aliases injury” to nan child, but received compensation for ordering him into custody anyway.

“Defendants grounded to merchandise nan babe unfortunate wrong twenty-four hours aft he had been unlawfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted and carried away,” nan suit said.

The rules of nan Idaho Child Protection Act were not followed, according to nan suit, which besides made claims of misconduct, negligent training, maltreatment of process, unlawful arrest, intentional battery, excessive unit and defamation. It besides alleged intersexual maltreatment — claiming a constabulary serviceman groped Marissa Anderson nether nan guise of patting her down for weapons.

The suit named respective individuals arsenic defendants: Dave Jeppesen, precocious retired head of Health and Welfare; Tracy Jungman, caregiver practitioner astatine St. Luke’s; Roxanne Printz, societal worker astatine Health and Welfare; Kelsey Johnston, Meridian constabulary spokesperson; Jeff Fuller, Meridian Police Department detective; Steven Hansen, Meridian detective; Sean King, erstwhile Caldwell Police Department officer; Kenneth Caygle, Meridian constabulary officer; Christopher McGilvery, Meridian constabulary sergeant; and Tracy Basterrechea, Meridian’s constabulary chief.

Bill Nary, an lawyer for nan metropolis of Meridian, told nan Statesman by telephone that nan metropolis would fto nan matter play retired successful court.

“We consciousness that nan officers acted appropriately and followed nan court’s orders,” he said.